History tends to be remembered by most of us in big broad brushstroke terms. We can rattle off dates and times, impressive statistics and jaw-dropping moments but if pressed, we are usually unable to talk about this or that epoch-defining event affected the people who lived through it. Fortunately we Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision 2020: Week 2 – Ireland, Israel, Lithuania, Malta, North Macedonia, Norway
This is normally how I begin these review posts … What is the Eurovision Song Contest?Started way back in 1956 as a way of drawing a fractured Europe back together with the healing power of music, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Concours Eurovision de la Chanson – the contest is Continue Reading
Easter festival 2020: If I Were the Easter Bunny (illustrated by Louise Gardner)
If you were the Easter Bunny, and who knows you may well be, I imagine you, like I would be a wholly happily giving type of bunny, right? I mean, it stands to reason; how could you be in charge of dispensing so much selfless joy, all in brightly-coloured chocolatey Continue Reading
The short and the short of it: The wonder and renewal of Treasures in the Trash
SNAPSHOTFor 34 years, New York Sanitation worker, Nelson Molina collected items in the trash on his route in East Harlem. Over 45,000 items, all catalogued and organized on the second floor of the M11 garage. Nelson retired from the job in 2015, but comes to the garage routinely to check Continue Reading
Easter festival 2020: Vicar of Dibley’s “The Easter Bunny”
One thing that British sitcoms have always excelled at is mixing serious moments into their usually buoyant silly comedy. It’s not easy to do; when you’re cracking jokes at a million miles an hour, whether verbally or visually, misplaced moments of serious emotion can arrive like hard-slammed brakes, stopping the Continue Reading
Book review: The Sound of Stars by Alechia Dow
When aliens invade Earth, as they are so wont to do, things don’t quite go according to planned. The Ilori, arriving as invading forces often do, with an overwhelming power and force designed to cower the indigenous population into easily-controlled submission, find humanity easily rattled and prone to shoot, a Continue Reading
It’s time for another brightly-coloured adventure! Say hello to “Chickabella Counts to Ten”
SNAPSHOTAre you looking for a counting story to read aloud with your kids? Chickabella is back for another adventure. Join Chickabella as she closes her eyes for a game of hide and seek with her family and friends. Little ones will love counting down with Chickabella, joining in with each Continue Reading
The challenges of love and sobriety: Thoughts on Feel Good
“And they all lived happily ever after” would have to be the most loaded phrases ever attached to any story ever. It’s a lovely idea and one we clearly want to embrace since everything from the fairytales to romantic comedies to Hallmark cards like lovestruck limpets to the idea that Continue Reading
Book review: The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
Rather fittingly given the precarious viral-afflicted times in which humanity currently finds itself, Emily St. John Mandel is best known for a book which examines the aftermath of a pandemic that sweeps across the globe in a frighteningly fast timeframe, taking over 99% of people with it, leaving civilisation in Continue Reading
COVID-19 retro movie festival: Away We Go #MovieReview
With COVID-19 cutting a swathe through just about everything worldwide, it’s no surprise that cinema is being as affected as anything else. In just one day, one of my favourite cinema chains temporarily closed, the Sydney Film Festival was cancelled, the French Film Festival was postponed and my other favourite Continue Reading